I need serious help with cutting!! - Original post in general

[jack96]

Hi All,

I was advised by one of the users that my required help might be best placed in this place rather than general so here goes...

I'm fairly new to the forum but was looking for some help/advice into cutting a type of card material as I am slowly losing the will at this point.

I am using the Cameo 4 with a range of blades including the Autoblade, Deep cut blade and Kraft blade. I am trying to cut a type of card that is around 650gsm (I know this is probably way too high for the machine to cut but stick with me). It's a pulp type paper, similar to beer mat card. It's around 1.1mm thick and fairly pliable.

The Kraft blade I initially started with for the extra depth 3mm. This starts off well but towards the end of the final cuts (increased depth increments from 5 up to 16 moving up 2 each pass) it jams on the last pass and ruins the whole cut. What I mean by jamming is it starts violently clicking as it's trying to force it's way through the material until you pause and reset the whole machine. This blade seems to be so hit and miss after reading a lot online it seems not many people have had great success.

I moved onto the Autoblade which cuts perfectly in the material, no problems but because of it's depth, it doesn't go all the way through.

I then moved to the deep cut blade (2mm) as the Autoblade did so well I was just missing the extra length. Again slowly scoring, and then cutting on higher depths. This cuts perfectly but despite the extra 1mm on the Autoblade, it does not cut all the way through. I feel like the the slot for the deep cut simply doesn't have enough force to make it all the way down. I have even taken off the measuring guard on the deep cut blade to make sure it's not stopping the blade from using it's full depth. No success. Does this blade just not cut card at all? If my material is much thinner than the depth the blade can go then why doesn't it cut?

I then tried to make the deepest cut with the deep cut blade and finish off with the Kraft cut blade in the existing lines. Again this makes sense but I still have many problems trying to get it to cut through the existing lines. The kraft blade goes around fine and the right when it's almost through it jams at some point and ruins the whole cut.

I've used various different settings...
up to 33 force
sticking around 1-3 speed
up to 10 passes

But just no consistent success. Anything that has cut out I've put it down to luck as I can never replicate under the same settings.

I have tried to reach out to the cameo guys by opening up a case but have had no response in weeks.

I would say in total I have spent 50+ hours testing, so much material and at this point I'm starting to think that it's not going to be possible. I've even considered trying to modify the kraft cut blade with the deep cut blade as I believe that the extra force that the second cutting position provides would work.

Sorry for the long post but If there is any advice or help anyone can give me regarding settings, or experiences they have had it would be greatly appreciated as I really need this to work.

Many thanks,

Jack.

[Neries]

Jack all I can suggest is contacting Graphtec in Wrexham for help. https://www.graphtecgb.shop/
Phone No. 01978 666700

They supply all Silhouette machines sold in the UK and they sponsor this forum.

[thriftycrafter]

Very brave trying something that thick, good luck!

[pkcase]

Yikes, 650 gsm I think is way too thick. May I suggest investigate large scale professional machines. I am sure someone will set me straight if this is not correct. I hope you let us know how you get on with it.

[Neries]

Yikes, 650 gsm I think is way too thick. May I suggest investigate large scale professional machines. I am sure someone will set me straight if this is not correct. I hope you let us know how you get on with it.

Petrina Jack is using a Cameo 4 which can cut thicker materials with the 3mm Kraft Craft blade in the second tool holder which has more force. It does however say on the packaging "Note: Some dense or loose materials may not cut as intended. Attempts to cut overly dense materials may result in damage to the blade." I do have a Cameo 4 and the Kraft blade but not tried either together. I am too attached to my Cameo 3. I intend to try cutting thicker materials like grey board but it's on the things I have not got around to doing.